Saturday Night Fever

“You know everyone in the UK thinks it’s a joke?”, a bloke I met last night told me of Eurovision.

I actually think there’s a degree of xenophobia in the “Eurovision As Joke” school of thought that you often find with people from the UK, reflecting a deeper series of feelings about England and Europe. But that’s another story, I guess.

Yeah, there are some dud songs, and some woeful performances, but I genuinely the spectacle of it all, and, at a deeper philosophical level, think it’s great that countries can be brought together in a way that doesn’t involve politics or sport. I also think it’s an interesting chronicle of the times, and how the world has changed.

I missed most of last night’s semi-final, but watched tonight’s and enjoyed it very much. My favourites from tonight were the singers from Estonia and Lithuania (power ballads, one with a poperactic feel), and the act from Moldova. By and large, though, I enjoyed most of the songs.

The hosts, on the other hand, were shocking. Phrases like “Victor, you are a very unattractive man” (from Fast Foward) came to mind, as they appeared to be direct from Eurovision Central Casting.

In 2006 the hosts bore a remarkable resemblance to Will and Grace.

For me, the most memorable hosts were the couple from 2006 who bore a remarkable resemblance from Will & Grace.

“Disappointed with Albania’s performance. Better than the national final though x”, came the text message earlier tonight from my mate, Louisa who is even more interested in/aware of Eurovision than I am.

I sent my friend Patrick a text tonight wishing him all the best. Lucky buggar is in Moscow for Eurovision.

And so here it is, Saturday night, I’ve had some pizza and I’m now half-watching ABBA – The Movie for the umpteenth time.

Join the Conversation

I don’t think it’s Xenophobia. England has always had a different style of music from most of the Euro countries. Tell me you don’t watch some of the performances and laugh? The bloc-voting of recent years has been a joke though, and there is much resentment that it’s the national broadcasters of the larger countries who pay for the competition but don’t get much of a look-in. Apparently they’ve changed the voting system now so that will be interesting. I’m intrigued to see how Graham Norton will compare to Terry Wogan!